Legal issues in the reproductive health care of adolescents.

There is significant evidence that both physicians and adolescents are uninformed of adolescents legal rights to confidential reproductive health care. When young people are aware of their right to confidentiality and assured that physicians will respect that right they are more likely to seek care. Restricting adolescent reproductive health care places added stress on young women delays treatment and may even lead young women to resort to dangerous alternatives. The legal framework governing minors ability to obtain confidential health services is key. This paper will identify recent threats to adolescent reproductive health care analyze informed consent and confidentiality in the context of adolescent care review minors constitutional rights and review the legal framework governing adolescent care in New York State as one example. (authors)